The civil society members of these two organisations are now alleging they have been reduced to rubber stamps or mere dissenters who are ignored. “We are being forced to accept pre-decided conclusions by the Environment Minister or officials in the MoEF and NTCA," asserted certain members. Tiger expert Belinda Wright, special invitee to NTCA and former NBWL member, said, “The civil society members are not heard during the meetings, even if they raise their voice against certain decisions."
Certain members who have been protesting but not heard have decided to or already stepped down. For instance tiger expert and NTCA member Valmik Thapar has quit the authority as a member, though he continues to be in the NBWL.
Certain members on condition of anonymity pointed out, that “if the recent record of the NBWL and NTCA meetings is of any indication, the independent watchdog status of the members is threatened and with this the committees themselves are facing imminent extinction".
The NBWL has been reduced to a forum for clearances for developmental projects threatening wildlife habitats, members regret. The latest meeting of the NBWL Standing Committee on April 25 was, according to them, by all means a “farce". Chaired by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, it discussed and approved 59 infrastructure and other projects in/around wildlife habitats in about two hours. Read the full report here.
Source: Moushumi Basu, The Pioneer, New Delhi.
